Session Law

Chapter 134
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND IN THE TOWN OF GRAFTON FROM THE GRAFTON WATER DISTRICT

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize forthwith the department of fish and game to acquire certain parcels of land in the town of Grafton from the Grafton water district, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows: SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of fish and game, may acquire certain parcels of land, approximately 12.5 acres in size, in the town of Grafton and identified on the town of Grafton assessors’ maps as Map 90, Parcel 9 and Map 82, Parcels 111, 112 and 113, for the purposes described in section 6 of chapter 131 of the General Laws.
SECTION 2. In consideration for the acquisition of the parcels of land pursuant to section 1, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the commissioner of fish and game, shall convey to the Grafton water district a certain parcel of land, approximately 1.6 acres in size, in the town of Grafton and identified on the town of Grafton assessors’ maps as Map 98, Parcel 121.
SECTION 3. The relative full and fair market value of the parcels described in this act shall be determined by the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance based on 1 or more independent professional appraisals. The commissioner shall receive and deposit into the General Fund such additional consideration, if any, established to be the difference between the full and fair market value of the parcels of land to be conveyed by the department of fish and game pursuant to section 2 and the full and fair market value of the parcel to be acquired by the department of fish and game pursuant to section 1. The commonwealth shall not be obligated to pay any additional consideration to the Grafton water district.
SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the inspector general shall review and approve the appraisal required pursuant to section 3. The inspector general may prepare a report of the review of the methodology utilized for the appraisal and may file the report with the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance. Within 15 days after receiving the inspector general’s report, but not later than 15 days before the execution of any agreement or document under this act, the commissioner may submit the report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on state administration and regulatory oversight.
SECTION 5. The Grafton water district shall pay all costs and expenses associated with the conveyances authorized in this act, including appraisal, survey and recording.